Latching mechanisms



May 20, 1958 s. R. CHERVENKA LATCHING MECHANISMS Filed Aug. 17, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3.

. 4 4 INVENTQR. GEORGE R. CHERVENKA i mw w m/ 5 m1 .u a H M F5 w e 7 F J J H n x H I 1 FIG. 2.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.8.

INVENTOR.

GEORGE R. CHERVENKA May 20, 1958 G. R. CHERVENKA LATCHING MECHANISMS- Filed Aug. 17, 1955 Unite States Patent LATCHING MECHANISMS George R. Chervenira, St. Louis, Mo., assignor, by rnesne assignments, to Medart Lockers, Inc., a corporation of Mississippi Application August 17, 1953, Serial No. 374,583

Claims. (Cl. 292-,-80)

This invention relates generally to latching mechanisms, and more particularly, to a certain new and useful improvement in means or mechanisms especially, though not exclusively, adapted for latching in or to its frame or casing the door of a clothes-locker or the like.

On March 6, 1945, Letters Patent No. 2,370,841 were issued to me for a locker latching mechanism of unique structure, and the present invention is an improvement thereon.

My present invention has for its primary object the improvement generally of such latching mechanism, to the end that closing action of the latching mechanism will be more positive and friction-free.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a latching mechanism of the type stated, which can only be opened by lifting the latch-bar but can be closed very readily without manipulating the latch-bar.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arr'angement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets)- Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a locker-door and its casing equipped-with latching mechanism embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an interior vertical sectional view of the door and its casing;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the door and its casing taken approximately on the line 3-3, Figure 2;

Figure 4' is a vertical sectional view taken approximately along the line 4-4, Figure 3;

Figures 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 55 and 66 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional View taken alon line 77.of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a similar view to Figure 6, showing a latchmember in the act of disengaging its keeper in the opening of the door;

Figures 9 and 10 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 9-9 and 1010 of Figure 8; and I Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modified form "of latching mechanism constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, A designates a gymnasium locker comprising a rectilinear frame or casing 1 having a door opening defined by vertical margins 2, 3 and top and bottom margins 4, 5.

Suitably formed on the inner face 6 of the casing 1 is a channel-shaped jamb 7 and in suitably spaced relation longitudinally therealong, as best seen in Figures 3 and 4, is a selected plurality of'angular brackets 8, each integrally including a bight-portion 9 and a forwardly projecting hook-like keeper 10 having its forward or detent end 11 located approximately in the door-opening of the frame or casing 1. Each bracket 8 also supports a yielding stop or bulfer 12 as best seen in Figure 3 and for purposes presently more fully appearing.

Hingedly mounted upon the other vertical margin 3 of the door-opening is a rectangular door 13 comprising a main panel 14 formed along its free margin with a channel-shaped stile 16 comprising an inwardly presented flange or wall 17 having an inturned back-wall 18, in turn joined by an inner wall 19 presented outwardly toward the inner face of the door-panel-14 as shown, the flange or wall 18 being longitudinally slotted at corresponding intervals therealong in the provision of aperture 20 for accommodating the respective keepers 10 on movement of the door 13 to closed position.

Snugly fitted for endwise longitudinal movement in the channel-shaped stile 16 is a latch-bar 21 of U-shaped cross-sectional shape and having a bight 22 in flatwise contiguous relation to the stile-flange 1S and side walls or legs 23, 23 presented outwardly toward the door panel 14 intermediate the walls 17 and 19 of channel-shaped stile 16, as best seen in Figures 4 and 5. As shown, the bight 22 is provided longitudinally therealong with slots 24 for registration, when in door-closing or latching position, with the respective slots 20. The bar-side-walls 23, 23' are suitably punched at corresponding locations therealong and thereby integrally provided with inwardly presented pairs of opposed rigid stop-ears 25, 25" and the bight 22 is similarly punched to provide inwardly struck retention-ears 26, one pair of stop-ears 25, 25 and its associated retention ears 26 being located adjacent to one of the apertures 20'.

Fixed at its ends in and extending horizontally between the walls 23, 23' just above each pair of stop-ears 25, 25' is a pin 27 for supporting disposition through the circularly curled center-loops 28 of a so-called rat-trap spring 29 having a U-shaped tail-portion 30 stationarily held within the retention car 26 and a latch-forming end 31 normally resting against the stop-ears 25, 25 and being provided at its outer end with a circular roller 32 for engagement with the detent end 11 of the keeper 10. It Will be understood that each spring 29 is thereby operatively mounted upon its supporting pin 27 with its respective roller 32 located rearwardly of, in operative registration with the oblique or beveled margin of the associated keeper 10 which is presented toward the particular aperture 20 with which such entire latching assembly is associated.

At suitable intermediate locations adjacent its free margin, the panel 14 of door 13 is provided longitudinally with spaced slots 33 for accommodating screw or attaching members 34-which engage the upper and lower ends of an angle-plate 35 presentedupon the inner face of the panel 14, as well as also the ends of a handle or manipulative member 36 presented on the outer face of the panel 14 for convenient manual engagement, the plate 35 having an offset or lateral lip or extension 37 fitting in a slot 38 in the adjacent side-wall 23 of the latch-bar 21. Also set in and bolted to the main panel 14 is a key-operated lock 39 having a bolt 40 positioned for locking enfiagement in a slot 41 formed in the wall 23 of the latch- Normally, under the pull of gravity, the latch-bar 21 is in so-called lower position, when'the slots 20 and 24 and the spring roller 32 are in registration for keeper-engagement. Hence, when the door 13 is swung to closed position, each respective keeper 10 will enter into and through its companion or co-operable registering slots 20 and 24 and its detent end 11 will abut against the spring roller 32. On continued movement of the door 13 to closed position, the spring 29 will flex and the roller 32 will be forced upwardly allowing the keeper 11) to pass therebeneath and travel to the rear thereof, whereupon the roller 32 will yieldingly return to normal position with the detent end 11 of the keeper 1d engaged, as shown in Figure 6. The door 13 will thereby be securely locked in closed position.

However, when the latch-bar 2. is unlocked, it may be readily endwise shifted or slidably moved within the channel-shaped stile 16 by means of the handle 36 and its several latch assemblies thereby elevated, as indicated in Figure 8, from and out of engagement with the several keepers 16. The door 13 may be then conveniently swung to open position. Of course, on release upward pull upon handle 36, the latch-bar 2?. and the latch assemblies forming a part thereof, will drop downwardly to initial position.

If desired it is possible to provide a modified form of latching mechanism as shown in Figure ll which is substantially similar to the previously described latching mechanism except that it is provided with springs 29' having tail portions 30 which bear slidably against the inner face of main panel 14 of the door The retention ears 26 of the previous embodiment are, therefore, omitted. This particular modification is useful where it is desired or necessary to utilize a latch-bar which is relatively loosely fitted and would therefore have a tendency to rattle or vibrate during use. in such case the tail portion 30 of the spring 29' will apply sufficient springpressure upon the latch-bar to hold it snug and thereby eliminate rattling and vibration.

The latch-mechanism is exceedingly efficient in the performance of its intended functions, and it should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, convgtruction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the mechanism may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A door latching mechanism for use with a door having a tubular channel extending along its latching margin, said door latching mechanism including a latch bar operatively mounted within said channel for longitudinal movement therein, a spring integrally including a tail portion and a latch-forming end joined by an intermediate series of coils, and a pin mounted in and carried by the latch bar, said pin extending through the coils of the spring for opcratively fastening the spring to the latch bar, said latch-forming end of the spring being provided with an element for riding against the edge face of a keeper projected there-against, said tail portion of the spring bearing resiliently against an interior surface of the channel whereby to hold the latch bar snugly within the channel to prevent rattling and vibration thereof when the door is moved.

2. For use with a swingable door, a door latching mechanism including a longitudinally shiftable latch bar, a keeper represented toward the latch bar and a latch member mounted upon the latch bar, -aid latch member having a transversely extending in, a spring consisting of two straight sections connected by a series of springforming convolutions, which convolutions are disposed loosely around the pin, one of said straight portions projecting outwardly from the pin and being adapted for swinging movement about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the keeper, said one straight portion being presented outwardly toward the keeper and being adapted for engagement at its free end against an edge face of the keeper as the door swings toward closed position, said one straight portion being adapted upon continued swinging movement of the door to ride up along said edge face of the keeper and finally rock into locked engagement therewith, and stop means integral with said latch bar normally abutting said one straight portion.

3. A door latching mechanism for use with a swingable door having a channel extending along its latching margin, said door latching mechanism including a longidtudinally shiftable latch bar, a keeper mounted on the door jamb and having a detent end with an inclined face presented toward the latch bar, a latch member mounted upon and shiftable with the latch bar, said latch member including a resilient spring having two legs connected by a series of spring-forming convolutions, one of said legs being retentively secured to the latch-bar and the all) other of said legs being provided with a latch-forming end adapted for swinging movement into engagement with the detent end of said keeper, said latch-forming end, furthermore, being presented toward the keeper and being adapted for engagement against the inclined face of the keeper as the door swings toward closed position and, upon continued swinging movement of the door, to ride up along said inclined face of the keeper and finally rock into locked engagement behind the detent end thereof whereby to prevent swinging of the door to open position, and means associated with the latch-bar for shifting the latch-bar longitudinally with the keeper to lift the latch-forming end of the spring bodily out of engagement with the detent end of the keeper,. and stopforming means carried by the latch-bar for engagement with the spring leg which is provided with the latchforming end so as to limit the swinging movement thereof when the latch-forming end is disengaged whereby to hold the latch-forming end in position for engagement against the inclined face of the keeper as the door swings toward closed position.

A door latching mechanism for use with a swingable door having a channel extending along its latching margin, said door latching mechanism including a longitudinally shiftable latch bar, a keeper mounted on the door jamb and having a detent-end with an inclined face presented toward the latch bar, a latch member mounted upon and shiftable with the latch bar, said latch member including a resilient spring having twolegs connected by a series of spring-forming convolutions, one of said legs being retentively secured to the latch bar and the other of said legs being provided with a latch-forming end adapted for swinging movement into engagement with the detent-end of said keeper, said latch-forming end furthermore being presented toward the keeper and being adapted for engagement against the inclined face of the keeper as the door swings toward closed position and, upon continued swinging movement of the door, to ride up along said inclined face of the keeper and finally rock into locked engagement behind the detent-end thereof whereby to prevent swinging of the door to open position, and means associated with the latch bar for shifting the latch bar longitudinally with the keeper to lift the latch-forming end of the spring bodily out of engagement with the detent-end of the keeper.

5. A door latching mechanism for use with a swingable door having a channel extending along its latching margin, said door latching mechanism including a longitudinally shiftable latch bar, a keeper mounted on the door jamb and having a detent-end with an inclined face presented toward the latch bar, a latch member mounted upon and shiftable with the latch bar, said latch bar having a transversely extending pin, a spring consisting of two legs connected by a series of spring- I forming convolutions, said convolutions being disposed loosely around the pin, one of said legs being retentively secured to the latch bar and the other of said legs projecting outwardly from the pin and being provided with a latch-forming end adapted for swinging movement into engagement with the detent-end of the keeper, said latchforming end being outwardly toward the keeper and being adapted for engagement against the inclined face of the keeper as the door swings toward closed position, said latch-forming end furthermore being adapted, upon continued swinging movement of the door, to ride up along said inclined face of the keeper and finally rock into locked engagement behind the detent-end thereof whereby to prevent swinging of the door to open posi- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 611,235 Cleaveland Sept. 27, 1898 6 Dockery Nov. 7, 1899 Clem Aug. 4, 1914 Burke May 3, 1948 Rudolph Feb. 21, 1950 

